Book Description

Teachers, here is an elementary insect “field trip between covers” from Tony Fredericks, a funny but very astute professor. The “trip” takes place all on one flower, a goldenrod, which is practically a “minibeast park.” A butterfly sipping nectar ? a ladybug snacking on aphids . . . oh ladybug, look out for the ambushbug! Dr. Fredericks focuses on the whole plant-and-animal “community” inhabiting a single flower. Two pages of “Field Notes” and “fun facts” at the back of the book offer intriguing information on these creatures.

Educators: download free activities based on this book on our activities page.

Book Details

In an easy-to-read, humorous letter, stinkbug explains why stinkbugs stink, where they live, and that other animals reside in their community. Turning the page offers a vivid drawing of life in an open field, including a goldenrod plant. The next picture shows a close-up of the goldenrod flower. Illustrations are double-paged, and brightly colored. They are so clear and colorful that they invite children to look carefully for details about the bugs. The rhyming text tells of two boys wandering through an open field in late summer. As the boys look more closely in this cumulative tale, they see more creatures. Creatures added to the repetitive poem include a spider, butterfly, bee, ladybug, ambush bug, and tick. The book ends with a two-page glossary, complete with colored drawings telling additional facts about each of the creatures. A list of five organizations working to protect and preserve various ecosystems and animal habitats throughout North America is included. The light-hearted way that the story is told makes this an excellent read-aloud and fosters a desire for young children to learn more about insects. Recommended.

If you look closely at a goldenrod flower, you may see a whole community of creatures living together on a flower. With a blend of science and rhyming text, this light-hearted, yet educational picture book, gives us a closer look at tiny bug communities. Some characters in the communities are beauties, like the butterfly. Some are productive, like the honeybee. Some are just hungry, like the spider, or opportunistic, like the tick. Then there is the terrorist – the evil-looking ambush bug! As in our own world – we are all different, but share commonalities, so it is also a fact in the animal world. In the animal world, this is called an ecosystem.

The theme of this book is to show how a bug community works and functions effectively. This wonderful book includes colorful close-ups and field notes about the creatures, as well as a list of books and organization to find out more information.

— Parent Line – Carla Cosner (August 2007)

Join two adventurers as they explore the extensive critter community that can be found on a single flower!

Learn what lady bugs like to munch on, how the ambush bug waits for its prey and discover just how smelly a stink bug really is!

Detailed an realistic-looking illustrations, accompanied by an informative narrative full of satisfying-gross bug facts make this story perfect for the aspiring insect expert.

Anthony Fredericks introduces his readers to a number of different creatures that can be found in our gardens and backyards, and for the especially curious reader, he provides a field guide which gives detailed information about all of the critters mentioned in his book.

— Connecticut County Kids(May 2007)

Big or small, there are natural wonders everywhere, and On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks by Anthony D. Fredericks, illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio explores a child-level microcosm contained in a single branch of goldenrod. Rhythmic text follows bugs up the food chain while they live as neighbors, all going about their separate buggy tasks.

Crisp illustrations show the bugs true to form, while humanizing them though their relationships to one another. On One Flower is also full of resources, with illustrated “Field Notes” that include fun facts about the bugs pictured, and ways children (and parents) can learn more about ecology, making this an excellent way to pique everyone’s curiosity.

— MetroKids Pennsylvania (April 2007)

While walking through the fields, two young boys discover the wondrous joys of watching tiny beings in our world. A colorful assortment of insects is seen living, eating, and laying their eggs on a strikingly beautiful flower called a goldenrod. The story is told in fast moving, clever rhyming verse that immediately catches the interest of the reader. Each page, which is beautifully illustrated, introduces a new insect and its characteristics. To help the reader remember these fine creatures on a deeper level, the author repeats what has been said from the previous page until at the end of the story all the insects are gathered together in verse. At the end of the book, there is a wonderful section called the field notes. This explains in detail about each insect featured in the book and where they are found. The best part of this section is entitled “Fantastic Facts,” where children can read an unusual and interesting detail about each insect. This delightful book would be a great way to introduce a unit on invertebrates (insects) to young learners.

— Children’s Literature (December 2006)

On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks, and a Few More Icks memorably presents the variety of insect life and activities that are an indispensable part of a flower’s ecosystem of interrelationships and interdependencies with animal life. Also available in a hardcover edition, Anthony D. Fredericks’ uniquely informative, science-based, rhyming text is beautifully illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio making On One Flower an entertaining, informative, and highly desirable addition to school and community library picture book collections for young readers ranging from four to ten.

— Midwest Book Review (October 2006)

Throughout the book, wide-eyed children watch a flower in the field for activity and discover the many visitors that come to the plant. Large, colorful, bright illustrations cover the double page. Drawings are simple and focus on one thing, for example a flower, or a leg of a butterfly. Text is large and simple to read as one goes through the book looking at the pictures. Field notes of all the flowers and insects inspected follow the text. the book explains the relationship of plants and insects in their world, and the curiosity of watching appeals to small young people, encouraging them to explore on their own.

— Catholic Library World – Barbara Taraska (June 2007)

As education director for the nation’s largest bug club I am always on the lookout for books to satisfy a young bug enthusiast’s thirst for knowledge. On One Flower is a perfect blend of scientific information and rhyming text – bug science that’s fun to read! And the field notes are a treasure trove. The plant-and-animal community-based perspective of Dr. Fredericks’ book opens a window to the world of plants and their minibeast companions in a way that will make young people want to go out exploring on their own.

Tony Fredericks once again works his magic to make learning about the wonders of nature an exciting and enjoyable experience. A perfect addition to a wonderful series, On One Flower is a must-have for every school library.

Cayden: “In the beginning of the book there is a letter written by the stinkbug. He tells us that he likes to live in a goldenrod flower and tells us some other things about him. He stinks up places to protect himself from things trying to eat him. Then, when the book starts there are all kinds of other insects that are in the same flower like a butterfly, a ladybug, and a bee. I liked the part at the end where you can learn more about the bugs. I learned that lots of spiders have eight eyes. They are in two rows of four. I drew a picture of them!

Parent’s comments: “On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks is a wonderful educational book about many of the smaller creatures in our world. Throughout the book we learned about predators and prey, and the different characteristics of the insects. At the end of the book there is a “Field Notes” section which provides further information about the creatures mentioned in the book. My child and I both learned many interesting facts, like the fact that “ladybugs are practically blind.” We recommend On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks to any child curious about insects and wanting to learn more!

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